Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019

Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, introduced the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill 2019 in the Lok Sabha on June 24, 2019. The Aadhaar Amendment Act 2019 UPSC is important for your UPSC syllabus.

The Aadhaar Amendment Act 2019 was approved by the Lok Sabha, allowing the voluntary use of Aadhaar as a piece of identification evidence for maintaining bank accounts and getting mobile phone connections.

This article will help you get all the key information for your UPSC or IAS preparation and prepare your IAS or UPSC notes.

Aadhaar amendment Act, 2019 – Background

• The Aadhar card, pertaining to be a 12 digit identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), disseminates their holder’s name, date of birth, father’s name, and residential address. This platform does not release any details linking to their resident’s medical records or religion, so it is relatively safe for users to trust using the technology for identity verification purposes.
• To be more specific, the identification number is classified as voluntary, and the owner’s consent must be sought with prior notice before usage in official matters.
• States have been using the identification mentioned above method as an asset in providing people with “their right to food” and other forms of welfare plans established by them.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)

• It is a statutory body created under the requirements of the Aadhaar Act of 2016.
• UIDAI was established to issue Unique Identification Numbers, also known as “Aadhaar,” to all Indian citizens.

The Aadhaar Act 2016

Here are some facts you should know about the Aadhar act 2016 while preparing for your UPSC prelims of IAS exam:

• Enrollment and authentication of Aadhaar and the operation and administration of all phases of the Aadhaar life cycle.
• Implementing a policy, technique, and system for assigning Aadhaar numbers to Perform authentication.
• Individuals’ identification information and authentication data must be kept secure.
• Financial and property data, caste, religion, and other personal information are not held by UIDAI.
• Aadhaar is only available to Indian citizens. NRIs are prohibited from applying for Aadhaar.
• Suppose a government official of any department refuses to provide services due to a lack of an Aadhaar or a failure to verify for technical reasons in violation of the relevant notice. In that case, a complaint can be filed against the higher authorities of the respected department.

Learn more about Aadhaar and the Right to Privacy, and Supreme Court’s judgement on this case at the linked article.

Salient Features of the Aadhaar Act Amendment 2019

This is a crucial topic in the UPSC Exam; therefore, pay attention to the following details.

• The aadhaar act amendment provides for ‘offline verification’ of an individual’s identification without authentication using techniques established by the UIDAI in its rules.
• The aadhaar amendment act states that an individual may freely use his Aadhaar number to confirm his identity through online or offline authentication. The act also states that under no circumstances will Aadhaar be mandatory for providing a service to any person unless it is prescribed in physical or digital law of constitutional stature.
• Now an entity can be permitted to execute authentication using an aadhaar if the Unique Identification Authority of India approves.
• The Aadhaar Act, 2016 exempts disclosures of Aadhaar-related information from security and confidentiality requirements if the disclosure is made under a District Court order (or above). The aadhaar act amendment 2019 modifies it to authorize such disclosure only in response to High Court orders (or above).
• The act allows individuals to file complaints in specific circumstances, such as impersonation or revelation of their identity.
• The act establishes the fund section for Unique Identification Authority. This fund will be credited with all fees, grants, and levies from the UIDAI. The revenue will be used to cover the UIDAI’s expenditures, such as salaries and benefits for its workforce.
• According to the Aadhaar Amendment Act 2019, it is mandatory for all enrolled entities of the Aadhaar ecosystem to strictly follow the law. This law permits the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to mandate strict action against these entities on any misdoings. Such matters will be decided under the supervision of adjudicating officers who can impose penalties of up to ₹ 1 Cr against these entities. It can be asked in the current affairs quiz or current affairs section in UPSC 2022 Exam.

Impact

• The modifications will give UIDAI a stronger framework for improving society and preventing Aadhaar abuse.
• Following this modification, no individual would be forced to give proof of Aadhaar number possession for the sake of confirming his identity until a law passed by Parliament requires it.

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